(source: PRNewswire release)

The Los Angeles Auto Show and Solutia Automotive (Solutia) have announced the addition of Solutia as inaugural sponsor of Design Los Angeles, the automobile designers conference that will run parallel to the Auto Show's press days this January 5 and 6, 2005. The announcement was made by LA Auto Show general manager Andy Fuzesi and Peter Eppen, Global Marketing Director of Solutia's Laminated Glazing Interlayers business. Design Los Angeles, the theme of the 2005 Auto Show, is envisioned to be an ongoing program to establish automobile design as an integral part of the show.

"We are fortunate to have a number of the most influential automotive design houses located in our vicinity," said Fuzesi. "This is a natural outgrowth of the proximity of those facilities, where some of the most innovative vehicle designs have been born."

Fuzesi also points to the Art Center College of Design, one of the premier transportation design schools, as playing an important role in maintaining the area's prominence as a global design hub.

"Our advanced Vanceva brand color and metallic products have been incorporated into vehicles as a design element on at least 10-15 concept vehicles per year, globally," said Eppen, "we see Design Los Angeles as a way to connect the leading designers in the industry with our innovative Vanceva product line."

Eppen also pointed out that Solutia is continuing to build its portfolio of Vanceva advanced interlayer products, and it is important to be in touch with designers to anticipate and help support the development of potential new products.

"Design Los Angeles is the perfect way to keep on the cutting edge of design. And since the world of design tends to transcend industries, we see the innovation and technology we offer as not only useful in the automotive industry, but touching and influencing the architectural industry as well," he said.

The conference will consist of several general sessions and seminars specific to industry issues such as modeling and color trends. Most seminars are designer-only sessions, but media are invited to attend Thursday's opening session and announcement of the winner of the OE design studio competition, and the afternoon panel discussion of prominent designers. A celebratory reception honoring the 75th anniversary of Art Center will close the program.